Print & Packaging Coalition Announces 2018 Legislative Summit Dates
A coalition of printing and packaging industry associations, allied in their advocacy for an improved manufacturing climate for their members, has announced their joint cooperation in sponsoring the 2018 Print & Packaging Legislative Summit, June 19-20, 2018, in Washington, DC. This signature event will bring printers, packaging converters, suppliers and allied interests together for public policy and political education as well as direct interaction with Members of Congress and the Administration.
In the 2018 Summit, AICC, the Independent Packaging Association, the Fibre Box Association (FBA) and the Printing Industries of America (PIA) will be joined by NPES, The Association for
Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies, and Idealliance. a global industry association representing the visual communications industry.
“We are excited that NPES and Idealliance are joining with us in 2018,” said AICC President Steve Young. “Our members share a common manufacturing process of putting ink on paper, converting the product and shipping to a customer in a job-shop setting,” he said. “Our suppliers are also intricately a part of this effort, as our members rely on their technology to remain innovative and competitive.”
The Print & Packaging Legislative Summit debuted in 2017, a rebranding of the former AICC and FBA Corrugated Industry Washington Fly-in. Joined in 2016 by members of PIA, who also sponsored a similar event, the Summit now includes even more representatives from the allied printing and converting industries.
“We have been extremely pleased by our alliance with AICC and FBA,” said Michael Makin, President and CEO of PIA. “We believe we have an event greater impact when legislators hear the concerns of many members in the print and packaging supply chain.”
Thayer Long, President of NPES, added his members’ excitement in being involved in 2018: “Our members are the suppliers of technology to the global printing and imaging value chain, and our efforts to ensure a healthy print economy provide a direct benefit to them.”
Idealliance, whose members also encompass commercial mailing and fulfillment houses, agreed. “Our members’ businesses are becoming increasingly dependent on each other and so this unity of legislative purpose is important,” said David Steinhardt President and CEO of Idealliance.
“As the traditional lines between printing and packaging begin to blur, it’s necessary that we work together with a common purpose.”
As in past years, the sponsors of the 2018 print and packaging event will be co-located with the National Association of Manufacturers’ (NAM) Manufacturing Summit. “Our members have enjoyed the benefits of attending many of the NAM Manufacturing Summit events in the past,” said FBA President Dennis Colley. “NAM has the requisite horsepower to attract keynote speakers such as Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan, and we in turn benefit from those presentations.”
AICC President Steve Young said he will be extending an invitation to other print- and packaging-related groups to join the effort. “This past year we were pleased to welcome representatives from the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) and the International Association of Diemaking and Diecutting (IADD). We are hopeful that they and other groups in the paperboard packaging sector will also ally with us in 2018.
More information will be available later in the year. For questions please contact Cindy Huber, AICC, at chuber@aiccbox.org or (877) 836-2422, Rachel Kenyon, FBA, at rkenyon@fibrebox.org or (847) 364-9600, Lisbeth Lyons, PIA at llyons@printing.org or (202) 627-6925, Sherry MacDonald, NPES, at smacdonald@gasc.org or (703) 264-7237, David Steinhardt, Idealliance, at dsteinhardt@idealliance.org or (703) 837-1066.
About AICC
AICC, The Independent Packaging Association is a manufacturers’ association of privately held printing and converting operations in the corrugated, folding carton and rigid box packaging markets and their suppliers. For over 40 years, AICC’s mission is to grow members’ businesses through education, advocacy and peer to peer interactions.
About FBA
The Fibre Box Association (FBA) is a non-profit trade association that represents North American corrugated packaging manufacturers. The association has been working for more than 77 years to grow, protect and enhance the overall well-being of the industry by providing member-valued programs and services.
About Idealliance
Idealliance is a global, non-profit organization for the visual communications and media industry. We are focused on sustaining the future of our industry. With our 100 plus years of qualified experience concentrated on integrated capabilities and total supply chain process, we deliver best-in-class specifications, certifications, research, and consulting that drive community, innovation, and inspiration. Our specifications define production workflows for color (GRACoL®, SWOP®, XCMYK™, G7®) content management (PRISM®), mail supply (Mail.dat®, Mail.XML™), and paper (papiNet®). Join us in directing the future of our industry. www.idealliance.org, (703) 837-1070
About NPES
NPES is a U.S. trade association representing more than 650 companies that manufacture and distribute equipment, software and supplies used across the workflow of printing, publishing, and converting processes. NPES owns and produces the global PRINT exhibition, and GRAPH EXPO—the most comprehensive exhibition in the Americas for the printing and digital imaging industries. For complete information about the Association, its programs, and its member companies, visit: www.npes.org or phone: (703) 264-7200.
About PIA
Printing Industries of America is the largest national trade association dedicated to graphic communications with more than 6,000-member companies throughout North America. PIA, along with its affiliated associations, delivers services and products that enhance the knowledge, growth and profitability of members through advocacy, research, education, and networking.